Many couples today are choosing to have a non-religious wedding ceremony, or be married by a friend or family member. Yet an important role of the officiant is to give you guidance in crafting your wedding ceremony, often following a predetermined format.

Most wedding ceremonies contain most of these elements:

1. Wedding processional or entrance of the bride and groom, and weddingparty.

2. Music, literature, and poetry or wedding readings from the Bible

3. Attendants or witnesses to sign the wedding certificate and marriage license

4. Wedding Vows

5. Exchange of wedding rings

6. A blessing, benediction, community commitment to support the marriage, orofficiant’s sanction of the marriage

7. A first kiss as a married couple

8. A recessional

Some weddings also include a unity candle or other unity ceremony.

Here is a sample of a non-denominational wedding ceremony:

PROCESSIONAL

OPENING WORDS OF THE OFFICIANT

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join ____ and ____ in matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any means to be entered into lightly. Into this holy estate these two people present now come to be joined. If ant person can show just cause why these two should not be joined together- let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

THE GIVING IN MARRIAGE (OPTIONAL)

The traditional wording is “Who gives this woman to be wedded to this man” but as of the 21st century, many couples opt for something such as “Who supports this couple in their marriage?” or “Who supports this woman in her marriage to this man?” or choose to leave it out altogether.

AN OPENING PRAYER OR READING

This will generally set the tone of your wedding. It could be serious, humorous, sentimental, or elegant. Typically, it says something about love, relationships, or marriage.

DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE

Here the officiant says some words about marriage in general.

WEDDING VOWS

SECOND READING OR SONG (OPTIONAL)

EXCHANGE OF RINGS

The bride and groom say something like “I (name) give you (name) this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.”

LIGHTING OF UNITY CANDLE OR OTHER UNITY CEREMONY (OPTIONAL)

Many couples are choosing to add a unity ceremony. They may choose to do this silence, with music playing or they may create vows to say about the joining of their families.

CLOSING

This could be a poem, a prayer, or a sanctioning of the marriage. It is generally the “final thoughts” of the officiant.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

The officiant typically says something like “By the power vested in me by the State of Florida. I now pronounce you husband and wife” or for same-sex couples, “I now pronounce you married.” This is followed by the first kiss of the newly married couple. Once upon a time, the officiant would say “You may now kiss the bride” but again, it’s the 21st century. So now, either the couple kiss immediately after the declaration of marriage or the officiant says something like “You may now kiss each other.”

INTRODUCTION OF NEWLYWEDS

The officiant says “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. ____” if they are changing their names or “I present to you the newly married couple, Jane and John” if they are not. For same-sex couples it would be “I present to you the newly married couple, Jane and Jane or John and John.”